[ellied]

As posted elsewhere I have 4 new ex-commercial hens - they're on layers pellets, corn mix and odd scraps like oatmeal porridge, leftover rice etc, any greens.. but I am keen to help them regrow feathers and put on a bit of weight as they're pretty scrawny and it's cold for them..

Any ideas what to feed for helping weight gain and/or feather regrowth?  I don't want them fat or anything, they won't be eaten ever so just for their own welfare in the current wind and rain really..

[Cinderhills]

I have only rehomed them once so far (am getting more on 15th Octobber hopefully) and in my experience it just took time for them to put on weight and grow feathers.  Sounds like you are giving them lots of nice things that they will love.  Maybe you could give them Poultry Spice:

"Poultry Spice is a mineral supplement to give to poultry to improve all round condition and performance.  The aromatic blend of highly palatable spices will encourage them to eat their ration and so help to keep them strong and healthy. The high mineral content will promote good egg shell quality. Invaluable to help birds get over the moult. Will help to keep condition during cold weather. Easy to use, just add to their daily ration."

Have you taken any pics yet? 

[ellied]

This was Thursday morning - they arrived Wednesday evening..

Only one had laid one egg in the time since and I felt guilty that she had

[Cinderhills]

Poor little loves, makes me so sad to see them.   But glad they have come to you to live a happy life.  

[deepinthewoods]

allmy 15 are on growers pellets, cos i want them big for eating, rather than eggs, i do still get eggs however.
 i also use poultry spice, and i mash raw garlic into their water,with a dash of cider vinegar.

[Hatty]

I got 17 about 3 months ago they were pretty scrawny too, every night I cover a dish of layers pellets in goats milk (or whey if I have made cheese) and sprinkle with poultry spice, they have access to dry pellets all day plus greens and bugs as they are now free range, don't know if I've been doing the right thing but they all seam to be doing great now!!

[sam.t]

you can get little exbatts coats to keep them warm as for fattening up they not ment to be fat you should be able to feel their breast bone thats the breed they are (not meet birds , but egg layers )
dont no if you have facebook or not but theres a group on there called chicken chat (hope thats allowed on here) and some of the others on there knitt the little coats
sam

[doganjo]

I think you got the best four - mine are worse than that - they don't stay outside long enough for me to photo them either!  

You're a born worrier by your own admission.  You're doing great and I'll give you some poultry spice away with you tomorrow.  Do you have any honey?  I'm going to give mine some rolled oats with honey and milk tomorrow.  Just teh cheapest kind is fine.  Or cider vinegar is good too.

[landroverroy]

 Feathers consist largely of protein, so they will grow them back sooner if you put the birds on a high protein diet, such as turkey or pheasant food. Failing that, chick food will do. It won't matter about the coccidiostat as they're not laying anyway.

 I discovered how effective this is some years ago when a hen hatched out some late chicks just as she was going into a moult. The other hens moulted at the same time and continued to be fed layers pellets. However the hen with chicks ate the chick crumbs, with her offspring and her feathers grew back within a month. The others took several months before they got over their moult.

[Rosemary]

Sunflower seeds and sardines. Just watch your fingers though as they will go mad for the fish. 

[landroverroy]

 Yes you're absolutely right there Rosemary - fish is one of the best sources of protein and minerals as well.
 In the "old days" you could get fish meal to put in the rations but it was banned after the BSE episode and I don't know if you can get it now.
 Bet your hens love the sardines though - they must be incredibly pampered!

[Rosemary]

Bet your hens love the sardines though - they must be incredibly pampered!

They were more pampered when there were fewer of them - sardines for 70 is a bit pricey 

[SallyintNorth]

Hopefully you'll be able to feed them whey and dairy waste in due course, Rosemary.   Any news....?

[Henstock]

Dairy products are not particularly good for poultry they are unable to process the proteins in it.
Cat and dog food is good for building up thin or bald hens and soya oil is excellent for putting on weight and feather condition.
Scrambled egg is another excellent source of protein for them.

[SallyintNorth]

Dairy products are not particularly good for poultry they are unable to process the proteins in it.

Well I am not a chicken nutrition expert so I could well be wrong.  All I can say is that I worked on a Welsh organic farm which sold eggs (amongst other things.)  Their ground suited growing oats, so everything on the farm ate oats.  They had found that the egg-laying chickens needed more protein than was in the oats and hence they supplemented the oats with skimmed milk from the Jersey house cow.